Support for electrical conductors



(No Model.) H

- J. 0. LOVE.

SUPPORT FOR ELECTRICAL GONDUGI'ORS.

No. 511,344. Patented Dec. 26, 1893.

FIG. 4;

. zren Z'or 17: a. Love 7 7 wliw his liilovqay UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. LOVE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LOVE ELECTRIC TRACTION COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SU PPO RT FOR ELECTRICAL CON DUCTO RS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,344, dated December 26, 1893.

Application filed January 21, 1893. gerial No, 459.231. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. LOVE, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports for Electric Conductors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in supporting devices for the line conductors or conducting wires of electric railways, and it consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention :Figure 1- is a view in perspective of the wire-support embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one part or half of the metal clamp. Fig. 4- is a perspective view of one of the gripping plates. Fig. 5-isa perspective view of one of the insulating blocks. Fig. 6-isa sectional view, showing a modification of the construction illustrated in the other figures of the drawings.

As shown in said drawings, A indicates the wire or conductor, which in Fig. 1 is shown as round or cylindric, and in Fig. 2 as provided with lateral grooves for engagement of the holding parts of the supporting device therewith. The supporting device illustrated consists generally of two gripping plates B B, a clamping device indicated as a whole by C and consisting of two parts 0 C between which the plates B B are held or clamped, and two blocks D D of insulating material, which are interposed between the plates B B and the clamping device 0.

The plates B B are alike, and each is provided with a jaw 19 to engage the wire, and with a shank or body part b, which enters or is embraced by the clamping device 0. The parts 0' O of the clamping device are provided in their inner faces with recesses c c which come opposite each other when the parts 0 G are placed together, and constitute a socket to receive the upper ends of the plates B B and the blocks D D of insulating material. The parts G G of the clamp are so shaped as to come together or meet above the recesses c a so that the socket formed by said recesses is closed at its top and open at its bottom. For holdingtogether the parts 0 O of the clamp, bolts EE are shown as inserted through the ends of said parts, which extend beyond the recesses o c; said bolts serving to draw the parts of the clamp firmly against the insulating blocks D D and to thus securely hold said blocks and the plates B B within the socket of the clamp, but means other than said bolts may obviously be used for this purpose. Said parts 0 are furthermore, provided with means by which they can be attached to or connected with a stationary part of the railway structure an underground conduit or other support on or by which the supporting device is sustained in position.

The device shown is adapted for use in connection with means affording longitudinal movement in the wire, such as is shown in a prior Letters Patent, No. 463,197, granted to me on the 17th day of November, 1891, in which the clip or part which is immediately attached to and supports the wire is secured in a block of insulating material which slides on horizontal guide rods, arranged parallel with each other. Guide rods of this kind are indicated at F F in the drawings, and the parts 0' C of the socket are shown as adapted to engage such guide rods by means of horizontal, exterior grooves c c on the outer surfaces of the part 0 C, of proper shape and distance apart to receive the said guide rods. The support 0, thus provided with grooves, is adapted to slide on the guide rods, and to thereby permit longitudinal movement of the wire, in the same manner as is the insulator shown in said Letters Patent. The insulating blocks D D are held in place within the recesses c o by means of horizontal, inwardly extending flanges c c at the lower parts of said recesses, said flanges being adapted to engage or extend beneath the said blocks, so as to hold them securely in place, even when the parts of the clamp are not drawn together sufficiently to cause them to tightly clamp said blocks. As herein shown the blocks D D are provided at their externally lower edges or angles with grooves or rabbets d cl to receive the said flanges 0 0 so that the lower edges of the blocks are flush with the lower edge of the clamp or nearly so, when the parts are assembled.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the plates B B are placed in contact with each other, and fit within recesses cl d (Fig. 5) in the inner or adjacent faces of the insulating blocks D D, which are also placed together, the bolts E E in this construction, forcing the parts of the clamp together, so as to bring the plates B B and blocks D forcibly in contact with each other and to thereby securely clamp the wire between the jaws b b of the plates. For so curely holding the plates B B and the blocks D D in engagement with each other, said parts are herein shown as being provided with intermeshing or interlocking recesses and projections, which are properly arranged for the purpose stated. The particular arrangement of these recesses and projections shown is as follows. On the outer face of each plate B near its end, is a horizontal rib b and in the inner face of the block D is a horizontal groove or recess (1 within which said rib closely fits. The said rib and groove thus arranged, obviously serve to prevent the plate from being drawn downwardly out of its place in the clamp. In addition to the said rib, the plate B is provided with a plurality of holes 6 12 (of which two are shown in the drawings) said holes being adapted to receive a corresponding number of integral projections or studs 61 (i formed on the inner faces of the blocks D D, within the recesses d d, thereof. Said holes 12 b are shown as extending slightly into the rib b and the studs (1 d as projecting into the groove d but the particular arrangement or location of the said studs and holes is not essential and they may be modified in practice in any way found convenient or desirable.

G indicates a sheet or layer of soft rubber or other suitable insulating material which I prefer to introduce between the parts of the clamp O and the blocks D D, to prevent access of water to the joint between said parts. By bringing the parts of the clamp together over the insulating blocks, and inserting a layer of soft or yielding insulating material,

such as rubber; access of water or moisture to the said blocks from above, is effectually prevented, the clamp thus made forming a hood to protect the insulating blocks.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a construction in the supporting device which embraces some of the main features of my invention, but which differs somewhat from the construction hereinbefore described. As shown in said Fig. 6, the plates B B are spread apart at their upper ends, and the upper part of each plate is embedded in a mass or block D of insulating material. The blocks D D are adapted to rest in contact with each other, and said blocks fit within the recesses c c of the clamp, in the same manner as do the blocks D D hereinbefore described. The construction illustrated in said Fig. 6 obviously produces the same general result as is obtained by that shown in the other figures of the drawings, it being obviousthat when the blocks D D are clamped or forced together by the clamping device, the jaws of the plates B B will be caused to grip or closely embrace the wire.

An obvious advantage obtained by employing a metal clamp embracing the insulating blocks is that said clamps afiords a strong and advantageous means of supporting the wire from the rods E E or other stationary support, whereby possibility of detachment of the wire from its support, by breakage of projecting parts of the insulator or insulatin g material, is avoided; it being obvious that breakage of the insulating blocks when surrounded by or inclosed in the clamping device, is little liable to occur.

The employment of two gripping plates, combined with a support for the same adapted to clamp or hold them against the wire, has the advantage of affording a simple and strong support for the wire which can be easily and quickly applied thereto and which is cheap and economical to manufacture.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with a conductor, of two gripping plates having jaws which engage the conductor, and a support for the said plates, comprising a clamping device applied to hold the plates in contact with the conductor, and insulating material interposed between the clamping device and said plates, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a conductor of two gripping plates having jaws which engage the conductor, and a support for the plates comprisinga two part socketed clamp, and insulating material surrounding the said plates within the socket of the clamp, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a conductor, of two gripping plates having jaws which engage the conductor, and a support for said plates comprising a two part socketed clamp, and two blocks of insulating material inserted in the sockets of the clamp and surrounding the said plates, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a conductor, of two gripping plates having jaws which ongage the conductor, and a support for said plates comprising atWo-part socketed clamp, and two blocks of insulating material inserted in the socket of the clamp and surrounding the said plates, said blocks of insulating material and the plates being provided with interpenetrating recesses and projections, substantiall y as described.

5. The combination, with a conductor of two gripping plates having jaws which engage the conductor, and a support for said plates, oomprisinga two part sooketed clamp, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as and insulating material inserted within the my invention I aflix my signature in presence socket of the clamp and surrounding the said of two witnesses.

plates, the said clamp being provided with JOHN 0. LOVE. 5 opposite external grooves in its upper part Witnesses:

for engagement with supporting rods, sub- 0. A. NEALE,

stantially as described. CHAS. A. ONEILL. 

